Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has warned big-name players against moving away
from a top four club after former team mate Emmanuel Adebayor was lured by
Manchester City's riches.

Mind over money: Gael Clichy says big-name players who sign for Manchester City are only doing so for the financial incentivePhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Emily Benammar and agencies

1:41PM BST 25 Jul 2009

The Togo international joined former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez in Mark Hughes' City revolution earlier this month, but Clichy believes such a move may only make financial, rather than footballing, sense.

The French full-back toldThe Sun: "I really believe if you are a player who thinks only about money then you could end up at Manchester City. You have to think if you want to play for a big club and have your image or if you want to play for a good club and earn big money.

"When you ask someone to move for something like £300,000 a week it is just crazy."

Earlier this week, Adebayor said he was certain City could mount enough of a challenge to beat Arsenal or any other top four side out of a Champions League place. But Clichy warned that big spending – City have so far splashed out £80 million – does not always guarantee silverware and places in Europe.

"I've been here six years and this is not the first summer where a club have spent big money to get big players," he said. "But it does not always mean a team will play well."

Adebayor, meanwhile, has lavished praise on his former team mate Kolo Toure – a player he feels Hughes would be well advised to make a move for.

"Kolo is a great friend of mine, he's a big player and a top defender," said Adebayor who is expected to make his City debut today (Sat) against Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa.

"He's been playing in the Premier League for seven or eight years now so he knows this league really well. If the manager could get him he can be exactly what this club wants and needs from him, I'm sure about that.

"I know how good Kolo is and I think what Manchester City need now is a top-quality defender like him or John Terry."